ByQuotes

Norman Wisdom Quotes

Powerful Norman Wisdom for Daily Growth

About Norman Wisdom

Norman Wisdom (1915-2010), a beloved British comedian, actor, and writer, was born on February 4, 1915, in Streatham, London. Raised in poverty during the Great Depression, Wisdom developed a unique brand of physical comedy to entertain himself and his family. At age eight, he left school and began performing at local music halls. In the 1930s, Wisdom joined a touring variety act, which led him to appear on stage with acts like Laurel and Hardy and George Formby. During World War II, he served in the Royal Navy but continued to perform for his fellow soldiers. After the war, Wisdom began appearing on British television and radio. In 1953, Wisdom made his film debut in "Trouble in Store," a role that would establish his signature character: an awkward, bumbling working-class hero who overcomes adversity through humor and resilience. Over the next two decades, Wisdom starred in more than 20 films, including "The Square Peg" (1958), "On the Beat" (1962), and "A Stitch in Time" (1963). Wisdom's comedy was a blend of slapstick, music-hall traditions, and improvisation. He was known for his expressive face, distinctive dance moves, and catchphrases like "Ooh, missus!" and "I say, I say, I'm lost." Despite his success in the UK, Wisdom remained relatively unknown internationally. In 2009, Queen Elizabeth II awarded Wisdom a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to entertainment. Norman Wisdom passed away on October 4, 2010, at the age of 95. His legacy continues to inspire British comedy and entertain generations.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"I don't want to go on living by instinct alone."

The quote implies a desire for more than just survival or existence, suggesting a longing for purpose, reason, or intellectual growth beyond basic instincts. It suggests that the speaker aspires for a life guided not only by innate impulses but also by reason, understanding, and conscious decisions.

"You can't win 'em all, but you sure as hell can lose 'em all."

This quote highlights the reality that not everything we strive for will be successful, but what it underscores more poignantly is the potential for repeated failure or mistakes when we are careless with our efforts. The message suggests that one should aim to win as much as possible, yet accept the fact that sometimes, we may not achieve our goals. However, consistently missing opportunities or squandering chances can lead to a larger loss than just the specific instance of failure itself. In essence, it encourages us to try our best while being mindful of the consequences of inaction or careless actions.

"Oh, I say! What a pickle!"

The quote "Oh, I say! What a pickle!" by Norman Wisdom suggests that the speaker is expressing surprise or dismay at finding himself in an unpleasant or challenging situation, humorously using the term "pickle" to describe this state of affairs. This phrase could be used in various contexts, such as when one encounters a difficult problem, gets into a tricky situation, or experiences a setback, all with a light-hearted tone.

"There are many different types of laughter in the world: the laughter of joy, the laughter of surprise, and then there's the laughter of pain when you stub your toe."

This quote by Norman Wisdom highlights three distinct emotional responses that laughter can represent: the laughter of joy, arising from positive emotions; the laughter of surprise, reflecting unexpected events; and the laughter of pain, indicating physical discomfort or displeasure (such as when one stubs their toe). In essence, it underscores the versatility of laughter as a universal human expression that can encompass a wide range of feelings.

"I don't believe in miracles... I've been married three times!"

The quote implies that the speaker, Norman Wisdom, views marriage as an extraordinary or seemingly impossible event, hence a "miracle," given his experience of having been married three times. This suggests a pattern or recurrence in his marital life that he finds remarkable or beyond normal expectations, which leads him to express skepticism towards other miracles due to his personal experiences with marriage.

You know I've got a chum, a smashing mate, he's got a dog with no legs, and he calls it a cigarette. It's true, yeah, because at nighttime he has to take it out for a drag.

- Norman Wisdom

Got, Cigarette, Yeah, Mate

But no, I've just been very lucky. But I've worked hard, and the harder you work, the luckier you seem to get.

- Norman Wisdom

Lucky, Been, Very, Luckier

In fact, one was so booked out we went from March and were to go till November, but the pantomime was booked so they transferred the show to the Prince of Wales Theatre because it was so packed out, and it ran on from there.

- Norman Wisdom

Fact, November, Transferred, Ran

It was smashing working with Jerry Desmonde, he was a very nice chap.

- Norman Wisdom

Working, Very, Jerry, Chap

What I like doing most is making children laugh.

- Norman Wisdom

Doing, Making, Most, Laugh

I play drums, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, french horn, piano.

- Norman Wisdom

Play, Piano, Horn, French

Most of my comedies were low on budgets - certainly by American standards.

- Norman Wisdom

Standards, Most, Certainly, Comedies

Of course I've done musicals here in London.

- Norman Wisdom

London, Here, Course, Musicals

My only phobia is untidiness. My hair has to be neatly kept; my shoes are always clean. Everything has to be in a straight line, in its place.

- Norman Wisdom

Always, Line, Straight Line, Phobia

At my age, the radiation will probably do me good.

- Norman Wisdom

Good, Me, Will, Radiation

Well if I was going to describe my audience, it's going to take longer than you'd ever expect, hundreds of years in fact, because there's many of them, all over the world.

- Norman Wisdom

Fact, Years, In Fact, Hundreds

I was born in very sorry circumstances. Both of my parents were very sorry.

- Norman Wisdom

Funny, Circumstances, Very, Parents

I can never tell a joke, I've always found it easier to just fall over.

- Norman Wisdom

Never, Always, Over, Joke

My father used to be away for months at a time, and he'd never leave any money for food, so my brother and I had to go out and nick it.

- Norman Wisdom

Father, Away, Months, Nick

I believe in physical comedy, because that reaches out most to people.

- Norman Wisdom

Most, Physical Comedy, I Believe In

I was born in London, and went to school in Scotland - I used to be dead tired when I got home at night.

- Norman Wisdom

London, Born, I Was Born, Scotland

I have a folder where I keep all the articles the critics have written about me. It makes me feel good.

- Norman Wisdom

Feel, About, Makes, Articles

I've been extremely lucky having been in the army when I was a boy of fourteen.

- Norman Wisdom

Lucky, Army, Been, Fourteen

I do play drums when I'm on tour.

- Norman Wisdom

Play, Drums, Play Drums, Tour

As you get older three things happen. The first is your memory goes, and I can't remember the other two.

- Norman Wisdom

Memory, Happen, Other, Older

I like consistency. If you've had a childhood like mine, you want some things you can rely on to stay the same.

- Norman Wisdom

Childhood, Some, Mine, Consistency

It was absolutely thrilling to meet Laurel and Hardy, they were so nice.

- Norman Wisdom

Meet, Thrilling, Laurel, Hardy

Years ago, there was a variety theatre in every British town, and people paid to go down and see it. Comedy was the main part of the theatre, and comedians earned a living by being funny. Now you have comedy in television instead. Comedians now have to be funny within a play.

- Norman Wisdom

Play, British, Part, Years Ago

I've got one idea I want to do for a film and you know I just enjoy myself doing bits and pieces.

- Norman Wisdom

Doing, Want, Idea, Bits And Pieces

I was in the band as a boy and was taught music and learned to compose.

- Norman Wisdom

Music, Taught, Learned, Band

My comedy is for children from three to 93. You do need a slightly childish sense of humour and if you haven't got that, it's very sad.

- Norman Wisdom

Need, Very, Slightly, Childish

I owe everything to the army.

- Norman Wisdom

Army, Everything, Owe

I've always had a sense of humour, and I still do, so I just want to go on performing as long as I can. It's as simple as that.

- Norman Wisdom

Want, Always, Still, Humour

There are people who like just ordinary comedy fun, and making mistakes - which I do easily - and then there are people who like the falling over.

- Norman Wisdom

Falling, Over, Which, Ordinary

Such is life and life is such and after all it isn't much. First a cradle. Then a hearse. It might have been better, but it could have been worse.

- Norman Wisdom

Been, Might, Could, Cradle

If you're searching for quotes on a different topic, feel free to browse our Topics page or explore a diverse collection of quotes from various Authors to find inspiration.